Minister for Veterinary and Animal Husbandary, Planning and Coordination, Evaluation and Parliamantary Affairs, T.R. Zeliang, on Thursday said there was shortage of manpower in the state in veterinary sector. He pointed that out of 240 registered veterinary practitioners, the state needed a minimum of 1287 veterinarians to work in the 1287 villages in Nagaland.
Addressing the inaugural function of the first state level orientation training programme on Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 and Regulations, T.R. Zeliang asserted that to develop the animal husbandry sector rapidly, the state required a highly specialized manpower of well qualified veterinarians. Highlighting the requirements of veterinarians and veterinary health services, Zeliang addressed the issue on the urgent need for a Veterinary College in Nagaland.
Stating that the state Government had carefully considered the need and issue of setting up a college, the minister requested the Veterinary Council of India for its guidance and help to get the project through.
T.R. Zeliang also stated that there was an urgent requirement for high quality feed for fast growth, high quality medicines and vaccines, quality animal products and the need to set up livestock and poultry production farms and their processing units. Considering the high intake of meat, especially pork, by people in the north east region, he said that the unavailability of good quality swine fever vaccine was a major problem.
He said continuous research and development in different disciplines of animal husbandry sector as per the needs of the local farmers in Nagaland would be most viable. To change the present scenario from subsistence livestock farming to a major industry in livestock production, Zeliang asserted that continuous training and skill up gradation training programmes of veterinarians would render high quality service to farming community.
President of Veterinary Council of India, Dr. A.L. Choudhary, stated that animal husbandry played a significant role in national economy. He said that it offered permanent year round employment to weaker section of the society, especially those in hilly areas. The president also pointed out “animal husbandry is not only a source of poverty alleviation but women empowerment.” He urged the state animal husbandry department, the state council, state associations registered under the Act to be mutually beneficial to each other.
As a part of global community, Dr. Choudhary urged organizations to be cautious, competent and be ready to handle any kind of problem. Stressing on the need to upgrade skills of veterinarians and to empower them, Dr. Choudhary appealed to minister and secretary of Veterinary and Animal Husbandary Nagaland to provide opportunities to educate field veterinarians with the latest technology.
A speech on animal husbandry activities in Nagaland was delivered by commissioner and secretary, Veterinary and AH, Thangi Mannen. The inaugural programme was followed by the orientation training where secretary of VCI. Dr. Anup Bhaumik, gave a presentation on the provisions of the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 and Regulations.